Many people ignore the change of nails on their feet, underestimating a possible danger.Onychomycosis (the scientific name for nail fungus) is not a cosmetic defect, but a medical problem.Constant exposure to toxins that the fungus produces, leads to chronic poisoning of the body.As a result - increased fatigue, weakness, disorders in the work of immunity.Not to mention that the nails affected by the fungus do not look aesthetically aesthetically pleasing and are disgusted by others.
What is onychomycosis dangerous?
Itching, burning sensation and discomfort with fungal skin lesions are triggered by the contact of the epidermis with mycotoxins.These substances alien to the human body have poisonous properties, cause inflammation and disrupt metabolism in skin cells.
With damage to the nail plates, such symptoms are less expressed.Unpleasant itching sensations arise only in advanced cases, when the fungus “gets” to the tissues under the nail plate.The fungus lives in the nail and multiplies, secreting poison into the surrounding tissues.The body suffers from poisoning, only toxins enter it in smaller quantities than with dermatomycosis.
The launched onychomycosis is accompanied by cracking and damage to the skin around the nail - this is the entrance gate for other infections.It is possible to occur wounds and suppuration, infection with a pseudoscan and golden staphylococcus is possible.Prolonged coexistence with a fungus ends with onycholysis - complete destruction of nails.New plates do not grow, leaving the surface of the fingers unprotected.Tissues under the nails are not adapted to friction, pressure, contacts with the environment.A person without nails on his feet is painful.Wearing shoes becomes torture.Uncertainty and complexes appear.
Onychomycosis is more difficult to cure than fungal skin diseases.The nail plate is more dense, and its base is inside the dermis.The fungus is able to spread its disputes there, which is difficult to eliminate, even with the help of powerful drugs
How to notice problems with nails in time?
Mycobacteria are located only in the upper layer of the plate.On it you can notice light dots and spots, a slight heterogeneity of structure, the lack of a natural shine.
Nail fungus development process
In the second stage, the infection penetrates into the nail.This is manifested by a change in its color, shape, structure.The nail plate delays, thickens, loses elasticity and becomes fragile.When cutting the nails breaks and crumbles.
The third, neglected stage is characterized by a complete change in the structure and appearance of the nail.It becomes whitish, yellow or greenish, loses transparency.The plate thickens many times, trimming becomes difficult.The shape of the nail bed changes - ledges and tubercles appear on it.At the last stage, other signs of fungal infection arise - skin itching, soreness and burning, cracks and burrs on cuticles.Often, the fungus "spreads" on the skin and nails nearby.In this case, dryness, itching and hyperkeratosis appear on the sole and between the fingers.In the absence of adequate treatment, the matrix of the nail is damaged, it dies and disappears.
Onychomycosis is easier to treat in the early stages of development.To notice changes in the nail plate in time, it is better to use colorless varnish for pedicure.Weekly, the “revision” of nails on the legs should be carried out - thoroughly examined them, trim, apply a new layer of varnish.
Treatment
It is necessary to start treatment of the nail fungus as early as possible.Ideally - from the moment of the appearance of spots.Distribution of the fungus dispute throughout the nail plate affects its growth rate.The affected nails grow slowly, which also complicates the treatment process.The nail can be considered cured 1-2 months after the full replacement of the plate with a healthy one.The longer the growth process, the more significant the cost of therapy.
For the selection of drugs, consult a doctor.Dermatologist is engaged in the treatment of fungal infections.The specialist will determine the degree of neglect of onychomycosis and prescribe special tests.Laboratory examination of scraping from the affected nail will identify the type of fungus and its sensitivity to fungicidal agents.Treatment with specific drugs guarantees the full destruction of infection and relapse prevention.If you choose the medicine incorrect, its use will not give an effect.Under the guidance of a dermatologist, treatment will be faster and more effective
The process of drug treatment must be controlled.In the process of using drugs, the fungus is able to adapt to them - to acquire resistance (stability).The weak medicine will only “euthanize” the infection.Visual recovery does not exclude the possibility that the disputes of the infection remained in the plate.As soon as a person stops treatment, the fungus is activated again.
Therapy of onychomycosis involves the use of local products.These are solutions, ointments, gels, pastes, varnishes.They act on the surface of the skin and nail plate, killing the fungus.In advanced cases, the use of fungicidal systems of systemic action - capsules or tablets will be required.Sometimes in complex therapy they include vitamins and immunity stimulants.
Drugs or traditional medicine: what to choose?
Traditional medicine practices recommend dozens of different recipes against onychomycosis.Often they use food products, herbs, as well as pharmacy products from the antiseptic group.Such "medicines" have no fungicidal effect.They are not able to kill the fungus.Within the possibilities of folk compositions - to stop its reproduction.This will grow a healthy nail plate.However, the fungus disputes will remain inside it, which are activated after the end of the treatment.
The use of folk recipes from onychomycosis is advisable exclusively at the first stage of its development.With a neglected form, the treatment will be very long and will not give stable results.
For the treatment of nail fungus, you should choose a special drug.However, the modern pharmaceutical industry offers universal means - fungistatic and fungicidal substances of a wide spectrum of action.Some of them are able to kill over 10 strains of fungi at the same time.In order to prevent the chronization of onychomycosis, it is better to replace the drug 2-3 times during therapy.In advanced cases, local funds are not enough.The cure guarantee will only give a comprehensive approach - taking tablets and the use of external drugs.
If you violate the treatment plan, use drugs or folk medicines periodically, do not bring therapy to the end - the nail fungus will remain where it was.Moreover, the infection will become stronger and will be worse to succumb to the influence of fungicidal substances.
How to prepare a nail?
Treatment of onychomycosis on the thumb of the leg is quite problematic.Here is the largest, dense and thick nail plate.On a large homogeneous area, the fungus propagates and spreads faster.The affected nail sometimes reaches 5 mm into thickness, which makes it difficult to penetrate medicinal substances.
Preparation for treatment
Before using drugs or means of traditional medicine, a sore plate should be prepared in a special way:
- Wash the legs and nails thoroughly with household or antibacterial soap;
- Place the feet in a basin with hot (tolerant temperature) soda-salt solution (1 tablespoon of soda and 2-salt) for 10-15 minutes are added per 1 liter of water;
- get your feet with a personal towel;
- to the maximum cut the free edges;
- cut off the affected nail plate until sensitivity appears;
- Dry your legs in the air and start treating the medicine.
Such manipulations will have to be repeated weekly, until the entire affected part of the nail is eliminated.
Prior to the start of treatment, several pairs of new socks, a separate towel for the legs should be prepared.During use, they need to be washed as often as possible, be sure to iron with an iron.A bubble with formaldehyde is useful, as well as a large packaging of cotton wool.Before starting therapy, 2 komka of cotton wool in the solution should be moistened, put them in shoes.The boots need to be wrapped in a bag and put on the balcony for the night.In the morning, cotton wool is removed, and shoes are ventilated for 2-3 hours.Such processing is carried out weekly.After a complete cure of the fungus, ordinary and room shoes should be replaced with a new one.
Choose a medicine
Turning to the pharmacy for an antifungal agent, it is necessary to ask the drugs specifically from the nail fungus.Standard ointments and creams will not be able to penetrate into the deep layers of the nail.For the treatment of onychomycosis, drugs in the form of solutions and special varnishes are suitable.
The solutions are applied to the nail twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, after hygienic processing of the legs.The product is dripped on the lunula (light area at the base), as well as to the free edge of the plate.In the first month of treatment, it is better to process the skin on the whole finger, as well as neighboring nails.Rinse or wash the solutions is not necessary.
Medical varnishes are applied 1-2 times a week.After drying, the product forms a dense layer on the surface of the nail, which acts around the clock against the fungus.
Treatment according to folk methods is somewhat burdensome.Some products must be prepared, applied for a certain time, covered with cellophane, rinse.All these procedures should be done every day, 2-3 times a day.Below are the simplest and most affordable folk methods of treating a nail fungus.
- Tea tree oil.It has antibacterial and antifungal activity.Can only be used with good tolerance.Ether is used in its pure form.3 times a day is applied to the prepared nail.They drip on the base and under the plate.Treatment continues until the nail is completely growing.
- Iodine.A pharmacy alcohol solution of iodine is applied to the nail twice a day, completely processing its surface with a cotton swab.Of the disadvantages - staining the plates and the skin around them.
- Vinegar.A lump of cotton wool is impregnated with apple or wine vinegar.It is placed on the nail, covered with polyethylene, fixed with a bandage or patch.Leave for exposure for 3-4 hours, after which they remove the bandage and wash off the remaining vinegar.In treatment, it is necessary to ensure that there are no burns on the skin.With good tolerance, the bandage is applied for the whole night.
Other well-known products are grated garlic, onion-honey mixture, gruel from propolis and alcohol, a mixture of aloe juice and mustard.All these drugs can be used for mild forms of fungus.Dermatologists recommend the use of folk remedies exclusively in addition to drug treatment.
How long to wait for the result?
The duration of treatment is purely individual.The terms depend on the degree of damage to the fungus, its area, the presence of complications in the form of dermatomycosis or immunodeficiency.You can get rid of the light shape of the fungus on the thumb of the leg in 3-4 months.Deeper lesions will have to be treated for about six months.In advanced cases, therapy lasts up to a year.Even after a full cure of onychomycosis, the risk of relapse of infection remains.To exclude it, it is necessary to use prophylactic agents, regularly and qualitatively care for the feet.
With excessive sweating, talc, special deodorants should be used.Shoes must be treated with antifungal solutions, periodically changed insoles, dry out in the open air.The same principles should be guided by the prevention of onychomycosis.The key point is the use of individual shoes, socks and towels in public places (bath, sauna, pool, massage office).
To cure a running fungal disease with folk remedies, it is important to know what the nail fungus is afraid of.The success of intensive therapy, a clinical outcome, depends on this.The main thing is to stop the pathological process of propagation of infection, stop an attack.To productively defeat the fungus of nails with folk remedies, you need to contact a dermatologist and undergo diagnostics, end to intensive therapy